EATS! Ackee and Saltfish

Ackee in Pod
 photo via Wikipedia and used by Free Common Use Licenses from

One of the favorite food of my birth homeland is Ackee.  It is a vegetable that grows on a tree.  When we eat Ackee it is paired with Saltfish, known as Codfish to the rest of the world.  You cannot have one without the other, the two are always eaten together and this is why it is known as the National Dish in our country.

The taste of the Ackee is not  your usual fare, because it is only known to Islanders and those who have partaken of its delicacies.  When I was trying to figure out what to compare the taste of Ackee to, so as to give you an idea, my hubs said he would compare it to the taste of Squash. I asked, "Squash"? Looking at him in disbelief. "Yes", he said. "Because of its texture, Squash or Eggplant".

I think he is right! :-) 

When the Ackee is being cooked from scratch, that is not from a can, you boil it until it is soft, it gets more yellow in color. Once boiled you transfer the pods from the pot to a plate and it is very important not to have the liquid from the pot because the water is not edible, so no leaving some of the "juice", drain it off completely.  You can now prepare the codfish, boiling it, drain the water (edible but way too much salt), and then stir fry with the Ackee, and other seasonings for a delicious meal!  We often eat this meal with dumplins, fried or boiled, and even with our favorite Jamaican hard-dough bread.  You can also add plantains on the side.

Oh yes, a meal such as this is an acquired taste, but one you won't soon forget!

Ackee & Saltfish with Fried Dumplins prepared today by my Hubs, YUMMY Breakfast!